Personal Anecdote

By Marissa Wilfahrt Overcoming

Teen adolescence can come with a lot of outside influence, much of which can convince us that we need to look or act a certain way to earn the approval of others. I hope that my personal anecdote can be helpful to you and motivate you to see the world in a different light, just as I have learned to. I’m sure you have heard once or twice about how scary high school is or how nervous everybody is to meet new people. I never understood why people focused on these things - all I could think about was how high school would jump-start my life and open me to opportunity. I wanted a fresh start on the social aspect, the challenging classes, and the initiative. I could finally control my development with no limitations. But starting in eighth grade, I became very conscious of myself, and I thought that if I tried to change my personality, I’d become more likable to my peers. Then, I made the mistake of getting social media. Sure, it helped me get in tune with some of the references my friends made in daily conversation, but I started getting suggestions for influencers to look at. I wondered to myself, what makes these girls so famous? What do they have that I don’t?

Then it hit me that some of them seemed to have a more slender body type (I had little knowledge of genetics or metabolism). So, I lost a ton of weight in the interest that a more lean physique would help me in sports and social life. But, it was far from that. As soon as I saw my health start to decline, I decided that I would go back to the way I was before: happy. No, I would exceed happy to show the world that I 20

“What happened to her?” Comments like those always meant so much more to me than the ones about how good I looked. My uncle has always been one of my top fitness supporters, and he always takes an interest in how I’m doing in competitions. To hear him say that made me feel like I’d failed him by limiting myself, and I wanted to make him proud. I decided that the next time he saw me, I would have more muscle and more power than I ever did before. His words still ring in my head today. They remind me that no matter how hard any of us try to please everyone, there are always going to be people who try to inhibit us and get in our heads. Those are the people we must not take note of. When I started getting more serious in weight-lifting and fitness, I started getting more muscular and what some people might say was “too bulky. ” But I loved looking in the mirror and seeing strength with a newfound intelligence. I learned about all the types of exercise, anatomy, genetics, and metabolism. I learned about things I wish I would’ve known when I felt like an outsider from my peers. Putting my fitness first and learning about my body’s natural state saved my life, and I couldn’t be more grateful for the people in my life who were there to help me, although I had to learn to open up more first. They were there to tell me that it was okay to eat when I would have gone to bed hungry, talked with me sincerely, and helped me discover the science behind how I was creating long-term problems for myself. Eventually, I started outperforming people I used to look up to and got compliments from people I didn’t even know were taking notice of my progress. I felt better than ever, and was fueling myself more than ever. As much as exceeding these expectations felt nice, I remind myself each day that the only expectations I care about are the ones I set for myself. We are stronger than we give ourselves credit for. If you ever feel like you don 't fit in, that you should wear certain clothes, change yourself, or be more self-conscious, defy that voice. Go out in your comfiest sweats to get some ice cream with friends or family. Talk to new people like they’ve known you for years. Confidence and intellect will always win the race. Fail over and over again for days, months, and years because that is what’s burrowed under true, honorable success. Get hurt by others over and over again for days, months, and years because you’ll emerge stronger than before. If it means late nights at work and early mornings, so be it. If it means dragging yourself to the gym before school, so be it. If it means putting yourself under some stress, so be it. Whatever it is that you can handle without going crazy, if you put in the effort, your results will take you far. Stay BeYOUtiful, Future Pilots. 21